BLACK ROSES 1988, Vestron Video

DIRECTOR: John Fasano   

PRODUCER: John Fasano and Ray Van Doorn

STARRING:   John Martin,  Ken Swofford,  Julie Adams,   Sal Viviano,   Carla Ferrigno,   Carmine Appice,  Frank Dietz,   David Crichton,   E.K. Miller,    Karen Planden,   Jesse D'Angelo,   Pat Strelioff,   Robin Stapler,   Anthony Bua.		   

Ever hear someone describe a rock band and/or it's followers as "monsters"? Well, in BLACK ROSES they are!   In the opening scene, we see a bunch of demon headed creatures in '80's rock "duds" playing before an adoring crowd.   Then the concert is broken up, and the fans that burst out of the hall are demons, too!

That opening scene is never really explained, but we assume that band was none other than the Black Roses (surely TWO bands couldn't have a lead singer with such a perfect head of hair!) who are coming to the lovely town of Mill Basin to play a series of shows.   And Mill Basin is the town where our story is centered, concerning the lives of a group of students that attend the local high school and Mr. Moorhouse (Matt), the "hip" and "with it" literature teacher.

It seems the parents of Mill Basin are rallying against the Black Roses performing their shows.    The kids are up in arms about THAT, of course, but Matt helps persuade the coucil to let the shows go on.   Some of the town council members aren't so sure it's a good idea, however, and attend the first Black Roses show to assure themselves that anarchy won't ensue.    The band hits the stage and immediately breaks into a sappy ballad about their home town, and the singer hands out roses to the audience.

Upon discovering that the Black Roses are such a harmless band, the council members decide they've seen enough and leave.   But of course as soon as they leave, the band immediately breaks out the metal, black leather and black magic!   And the kids go wild -- so wild that they are listless and non-communicative in Matt's class the next day, which isn't like them at all.   He's their favorite teacher, after all!   And he begins to suspect that something is going on at those Black Roses shows, especially since the band just "gave" tickets for the rest of their shows to all the kids.

And more strange behaviors are being exhibited by the kids with each successive show.   They get into fights, commit random acts of destruction, and rebelliously begin chanting "Damian" (the name of the Black Roses' singer) at Matt one day in class.   Apparently, the Black Roses have a bad effect on kids in general, since a little boy under the effect of the Black Roses music throws his favorite toys into the fireplace.   And stranger things are happening at Black Roses shows:   in one scene, the "concert" is nothing more than the band standing on stage while the audience chants and Damien delivers a sermon of evil.   Falling deeper under the spell of Damien and his Black Roses, the kids begin murdering their parents and authority figures.

But Matt knows something is going on, since he's been doing research on witchcraft and demonology at the local library.   He's not going to give up "his kids" without a fight!   He charges into a Black Roses show, to find Damien "holding court" over the audience.   Damien changes into his TRUE form -- a hideous and very odd-looking demon, which freaks out his adoring female fans -- and he and Matt do battle "for the kids."   Naturally, Matt wins by kneeing the demon in the groin and setting him on fire.   With Damien going to his fiery rewards, the spell is broken, and the kids return to normal.   The world is saved!

Or is it?   In the final scene, Matt watches in horror as a TV newscaster reports that the Black Roses are doing a series of five shows in New York City before taking their act to Briton!

RATING:    

The soundtrack, the appearance of Carmine Appice and the plethora of "80's rock clothes" in this movie combine to make BLACK ROSES worth a watch.   Also, the "monster effects" (particularly the "Damien/Demon" at the end of the movie) will give you a chuckle.

A woman who appears to be the Black Roses' bass player is shown naked in sillhouette.   A young lady bares her breasts and touches herself.   And I'm not sure if this counts or not, but a female demon with bare breasts fights with Mr. Moorhouse.

SCENES THAT MAKE ME GO "HMMM...,":

1. At the town hall meetings, both the American AND the Canadian flags are displayed.   So is Mill Basin in America, in Canada, or straddling a line somewhere in-between?

2. One of the town teenagers decides to "paint the town red", but all he manages to do is open a can of red paint.   The next day at school, said teenager is informed that Matt knows what he did, but won't tell anyone. So what's there to tell?   Even I wouldn't have gotten in trouble for opening a can of paint!

3. The city council members are so concerned about the Black Roses show that they attend the concert to make sure there won't be any "bad stuff" going on.   But they leave before one song is finished?   Wish my parents had been so gullible!

DID YOU KNOW...,:

 -   Vincent Pastore, who plays "Big Pussy" on The Sopranos, appears in BLACK ROSES as Tony's Dad.

 -  Frank Dietz, who plays Johnny in BLACK ROSES, also appeared in ROCK 'N' ROLL NIGHTMARE.

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